Yes! Swimmers should be between ages 6 - 18 years and/or have the ability to swim one lap of the pool on his/her own using one of the four competitive strokes. That's it and leave the rest to us!
Contact the coach if you still have questions!
How old does my child have to be to join?
In general, swimmers should be between ages 6 - 18 years and/or have the ability to swim one lap of the pool on his/her own using one of the four competitive strokes. On occasion, a 5-year old may join, but a tryout day of practice is required.
When is practice?
Our team reserves at least two hours of practices per practice day, though this does not mean that every swimmer practices for two hours. Within the two hours of team practice time, we have three practice groups: 45-minutes, 1 hour, and 1.5 hours.
Practice times vary by season. Please check our home page for current days and times.
How long will my child practice?
The practice groups are divided by skill level, which generally follows age.
The 45-minute practice group (1 hour in the pool), known as the Blue Group, suits swimmers who can swim a length of the pool using one of the competitive strokes. Swimmers in this group still need significant stroke work and endurance building.
The 1-hour practice group (1:15 in the pool), known as the Yellow Group, includes swimmers who can swim many consecutive lengths of the pool, but who still need stroke refinement.
The 1.5 hour group, known as the Red Group, is for experienced recreational swimmers.
Though there are defined practice groups on our recreational Team, the coach strives to keep competition between teammates at the swim meets. Practice time is meant for developing each and every swimmer and team members are expected to be supportive of one another while focusing on their own personal development.
How much does it cost?
Membership dues vary by season. Our Team works hard to keep costs low so that we can accommodate anyone interested in swimming. Generally speaking, a season of swimming costs $100 per swimmer.
We have been lucky so far with available funds, but will need to start ramping up our fundraising efforts to keep the Team viable for a long time to come. If you have any suggestions for how to help, please contact our Team treasurer!
Can I swim with my child during practice?
Our team values family involvement. That said, practice time is for your swimmer - both in and out of the water.
The facility keeps a lane open during our practice time for anybody to use, so please jump in!
Better yet, join our MASTERS' SWIM TEAM for your own workout!
The coach wants to be available to you and your swimmer, but would prefer that parents refrain from contacting the coach during practice time. Often the coach is available after practice and always via e-mail.
How can I support the Team?
There are many ways to support us!
As a member-run organization, we rely on our families to give their time to fundraising events, team organization, and team building activities. Sign up for our team e-mails or visit this site for up-to-date volunteer opportunities!
With respect to the rural nature of our membership community as well as numerous advertising/promotion-to-youth restrictions, word of mouth is our best way to garner community support and involvement. Help us spread the word!
As an aspiring not-for-profit organization, we welcome monetary and in-kind donations such as banners, pool flags, and swim equipment. Please contact our team treasurer for more specific information: treas@peaktopeakswimteam.com .
Sounds great! How do I join?
Print out and complete the Registration and Liability Forms from the Registration Page and bring that and the corresponding Season's Dues to the first practice.
Please see the Registration Page for new 2011 Fees and Policies.
Contact the treasurer for any additional fee/registration questions.
It sounds interesting, but I/my child is still not sure.
Then come on by and try it out! We always encourage interested swimmers and believe there's only one way to be sure! We offer two free tryout days and look forward to seeing you!
How do I take care of my swim suit?
Unfortunately, suits are going to wear out over time.There are, however, some good practices for prolonging the life of a swim suit.
1. Keep your suit on when showering after practice (or at least some part of it). This should give the suit a good rinse and whatever soaps are used for cleansing oneself
is helpful for the suit as well.
2. Do not wring out the suit – ever. Suit spinners are nice, but not recommended for daily use as they are pretty aggressive. Occasional use should not hurt a suit, but
since we’re talking about prolonging suit life, I would advise against it entirely.
3. Do not leave a swim suit in a swim bag for days on end.
4. Hang to dry as soon as possible after a swim.
5. Never use a dryer on a suit. The synthetic materials in a suit are very susceptible to heat or, in other words, they melt!
6. No washing machines, either! If you really feel you have to wash a suit, put it in a sink of cool water with liquid detergent. Again, don’t wring and drip dry. Chlorine is an
amazing substance as far as disease control. After all, it is what allows us to share a big tub of water with our neighbors! And, on a personal note - I can’t remember ever
washing my swim suits or anyone around me ever doing so.
7. Hanging suits outside in the sun will fade a suit.
8. Try to have one suit for practices and one for meets. Costco has very inexpensive Speedos. Racing suits can be retired to practice suits. At older ages and for more
experienced swimmers, two suits can be worn at practice – for drag resistance training and for suit see-through modesty.
9. Watch the surfaces with which the suit comes in contact. Pool decks, diving boards, etc are rough and can fray a suit over time. Velcro on swim bags is another one to
be aware of.
There are lots of suggested care guidelines out there that I feel fall in the realm of unrealistic practices (e.g. - rinsing with stinky vinegar, color-fading solutions, etc). Developing practices now that you and/or your swimmer will actually adhere to over time are going to be the best bets for prolonging the life of a swim suit while maintaining an interest in the sport.
-JML
How do I take care of my swim cap?
Swim caps are like the tissues of the swim world. They get lost, torn, traded, dissolved, and stuck to the insides of swim bags. They can be stretched under water large enough to fit inside three mammoth adults and then never fit a head again. You’re going to go through these quite readily, so I suggest the following:
1. Have more than one cap for practices and a different cap for meets. Silicone caps are comfortable and thus a nice way to introduce new swimmers to the routine use of
a swim cap. Silicone caps are, however, expensive and too thick (too much drag) for any serious level of competition. Latex caps are a few dollars and don’t hurt as much
financially when they tear.
2. Caps should be rinsed and dried out as soon as possible. Like swim suits, caps are made of synthetic materials that just don’t stand a chance against chlorine in the long
run. Toweling, hanging or laying them down to dry are all okay. Just be careful not to snag the cap on a hook, which is a sure way to tear one.
3. Sides of a cap stick to one another after they dry. Often, swimmers will carry baby powder in their swim bags to toss inside and rub on the outsides of their dry caps.
Since drying can take a bit of time, this is where having multiple practice caps comes in handy.
4. When caps stick together – get them wet first before trying to separate.
5. Finger nails – go straight through a cap. Be careful when putting on and taking off. Taking off a cap under water at the end of practice is a little easier on a cap and
one’s head than ripping it off on the pool deck.
-JML